Program Director:

Jannus is excited to be managing the Suicide Prevention Hotline for Idaho. Among states, Idaho is 6th highest in its suicide rate. Yet, it was the only state without an accredited suicide crisis line. The Hotline launched on November 26th, 2012 and is handling calls from throughout the state. The Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline is committed to the prevention of suicide in Idaho. The Hotline provides emotional support, risk assessment, crisis intervention, linkages to local services, and/or follow-up for persons with potential suicide risk factors, empowering callers to look at options and make their own decisions.

Crisis Intervention, Assessment, Support and Follow Up

The Hotline provides callers:

Emotional Support

Assessment of suicide risk

Crisis intervention to those in imminent danger

Linkages to local services

Follow-up for persons with potential suicide risk factors

The Hotline’s current operational hours are Monday-Saturday 9 am to 1 am. Outside those hours, all calls to the Hotline number 1-800-273-TALK (8255) are answered by other phone responders outside of Idaho. – See more at: http://www.idahosuicideprevention.org

Volunteer Recruitment

The Hotline seeks volunteers willing to help others in their time of difficulty. We are looking for laypersons or professionals that are interested in volunteering their time to become trained crisis phone workers in a supportive, supervised, dedicated phone room model.

Anyone over 21 years old can volunteer for the hotline, whether you are a professional or concerned citizen. Our ideal volunteer will be empathetic, open-minded, non-judgmental, caring, accepting, respectful, understanding, flexible, a good listener and able to take direction.

Volunteers receive approximately 32 hours of training. Included in the training is internationally accredited Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). As well, further education on Idaho specific issues and time shadowing in the phone room prior to taking calls.

Commitment to one 4.5 hour Hotline shift per week for one year in our Boise location. Current shift times are: 9am-1:30pm, 1pm-5:30pm, 5pm-9:30pm and 9pm-1:00am.

The Hotline’s next volunteer training program will take place in August 2014. Information sessions will be held throughout July, and scheduled after your application has been received. Detailed information and application can be found on the website. Please email completed applications to nleary@jannus.org, or mailed to:

Jannus c/o Nina Leary 1607 W. Jefferson St, Boise, ID 83702

Got compassion?

Volunteer today to become part of the crisis response team at the ISPH.